US4867466A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Distance based method and apparatus for determining the center position of a vehicular steering system
Assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
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Filing: 1987-12-16
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Granted: 1989-09-19
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Expires: 2007-12-16
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for determining the center position of a steering system installed in a vehicle uses a distance based algorithm to correct the center position. The actual steering position is sampled periodically, based upon the distance traveled by the vehicle, and corrections are made according to the difference between the sampled positions and a previously assumed steering center.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael W. Soltis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 05:48
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60G; B60G17/00; B60G17/015; B60G17/016; B60G17/0162; B62; B62D; B62D15/00; B62D15/02; B60G2202/00; B60G2202/10; B60G2202/13; B60G2202/135; B60G2400/00; B60G2400/10; B60G2400/106; B60G2400/20; B60G2400/204; B60G2400/40; B60G2400/41; B60G2400/412; B60G2400/44; B60G2400/90; B60G2400/92; B60G2400/922; B60G2401/00; B60G2401/14; B60G2500/00; B60G2500/10; B60G2500/20; B60G2600/00; B60G2600/70
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
80 words
An apparatus for determining the center position of a steering system installed in a vehicle, comprising: steering sensor means for defining a movable center region of operation of said steering system and for detecting the operational position of said steering system with respect to said center region; distance sensor means for tracking the distance traveled by said vehicle; and processor means operatively connected with said steering and distance sensor means for adjusting the position of said center region of operation.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
80 words
An apparatus for determining the center position of a steering system installed in a vehicle, comprising: steering sensor means for defining a movable center region of operation of said steering system and for detecting the operational position of said steering system with respect to said center region; distance sensor means for tracking the distance traveled by said vehicle; and processor means operatively connected with said steering and distance sensor means for adjusting the position of said center region of operation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
61 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said processor means adjusts the position of said center region of operation by directing said steering sensor means to measure the difference between the position of the steering system and said center region and by moving the position of said center region by an amount which is based upon the magnitude of such difference.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said processor means adjusts the position of said center region of operation at predetermined intervals of distance sensed by said distance sensor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said processor means adjusts the magnitude of said predetermined intervals of distance based upon the magnitude of said measured difference between the position of the steering system and the center region.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said center region of operation comprises a window with a discrete center therein.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
57 words
An apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said processor means adjusts the position of said window by directing said steering sensor means to measure the difference between the position of the steering system and said discrete center and by moving the position of said window by an amount which is based upon the magnitude of such difference.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
An apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said processor means adjusts the position of said window whenever said steering system is operated outside of said window, such that the discrete center is made coincident with the instantaneous operating position of the steering system.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said distance sensor comprises a vehicle velocity sensor, operatively connected with said processor, for synthesizing a distance based upon said velocity and upon a specified time interval.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said steering sensor comprises a shutter wheel which is rotatable in unison with the steering system of said vehicle and spaced apart optical devices which detect movement of said shutter wheel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said distance sensor comprises a variable reluctance alternating current generator driven by the powertrain of said vehicle.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
144 words
A method for determining the center position of a steering system installed in a vehicle, comprising the steps of: assuming an initial center position; recording the window distance during which the steering system has remained within a window of operation extending about said assumed center position; comparing the accumulated window distance to a variable sampling distance; measuring the difference between a steering system position characteristic value and said assumed center position whenever said window distance bears a predetermined relationship to said sampling distance; adjusting the assumed center position according to said measured difference between said steering system position characteristic value and said assumed center position; adjusting said sampling distance according to said measured difference between said steering system position characteristic value and said adjusted center position; and repeating each of said steps sequentially with said adjusted center position substituted for said assumed center position.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
144 words
A method for determining the center position of a steering system installed in a vehicle, comprising the steps of: assuming an initial center position; recording the window distance during which the steering system has remained within a window of operation extending about said assumed center position; comparing the accumulated window distance to a variable sampling distance; measuring the difference between a steering system position characteristic value and said assumed center position whenever said window distance bears a predetermined relationship to said sampling distance; adjusting the assumed center position according to said measured difference between said steering system position characteristic value and said assumed center position; adjusting said sampling distance according to said measured difference between said steering system position characteristic value and said adjusted center position; and repeating each of said steps sequentially with said adjusted center position substituted for said assumed center position.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 11 wherein the accumulated window distance is set equal to zero whenever said steering system is operated outside of said window of operation.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 11 wherein the accumulated window distance is set equal to zero whenever said accumulated window distance is equal to said sampling distance.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 11 wherein said steering system position characteristic value comprises the instantaneous steering system position.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 11 wherein said steering system position characteristic value comprises a distance-averaged function of the steering system position.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
20 words
A method according to 11 wherein said steering system position characteristic value comprises the center of said window of operation.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
20 words
A method according to 11 wherein said steering system position characteristic value comprises the center of said window of operation.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
29 words
A method according to 11 wherein said window of operation comprises an angular region of operation of a rotatable steering shaft, with said angular region having a predetermined size.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
29 words
A method according to 11 wherein said window of operation comprises an angular region of operation of a rotatable steering shaft, with said angular region having a predetermined size.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
40 words
A method according to 17 wherein said window of operation is relocated whenever said rotatable steering shaft is operated outside of said window, so that the relocated window extends on either side of the instantaneous position of said steering shaft.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
40 words
A method according to 17 wherein said window of operation is relocated whenever said rotatable steering shaft is operated outside of said window, so that the relocated window extends on either side of the instantaneous position of said steering shaft.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to claim 11 wherein said window of operation comprises an angular region of operation of a rotatable steering shaft, with said angular region being of variable size.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 19 wherein the size of said window of operation bears a predetermined relationship to said sampling distance.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 20 wherein the size of said window of operation is generally decreased as said sampling distance is increased.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 11 wherein each of said steps is repeated sequentially until said sampling distance reaches a predetermined value.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 11 wherein the difference between the instantaneous steering system position and the assumed center position is measured whenever said window distance is equal to said sampling distance.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 11 wherein the sampling distance is increased when measured difference between the instantaneous steering system position and the adjusted center position is less than a predetermined value.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method according to claim 11 wherein the sampling distance is decreased when the measured difference between the instantaneous steering system position and the adjusted center position is greater than a predetermined value.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
66 words
A method for determining the center position of a steering system installed in a vehicle, comprising the steps of: assuming a discrete center position; defining a window extending about said discrete center position; recording the excursion distance said steering system is operated outside said window during a predetermined vehicle travel distance; and adjusting the discrete center position according to the magnitude of said recorded excursion distance.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
66 words
A method for determining the center position of a steering system installed in a vehicle, comprising the steps of: assuming a discrete center position; defining a window extending about said discrete center position; recording the excursion distance said steering system is operated outside said window during a predetermined vehicle travel distance; and adjusting the discrete center position according to the magnitude of said recorded excursion distance.
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